Genre Alchemy

Bong Joon-ho has described his method as "staircase filmmaking": each act occupies a different genre level, the way each floor of the Parks' house holds a different world. The tonal shifts are not random — they map directly onto the physical architecture, so moving through the story feels like climbing or descending the stairs.

This fluidity is what makes Parasite reach audiences everywhere despite its specifically Korean setting. Comedy, thriller, and horror are understood across every culture, so the film travels without losing its edge.